Self-closing mouth for bags.



No. 744,846. PATENTED NOV. .24, 1903.

G. W. WILLIAMS. SELF CLOSING MOUTH FOR BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL,

Fg? 2m a. 12329 52 .10.

W|TNE$$E51 I INVENTOR ms ATTORN EYS Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W, WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-CLOSING MOUTH FOR BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,846, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed August 27, 1903. Serial No. 171,022. (N o model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States of America, and -a resident of New York city, county of New York, State of New York,-have invented an Improved Self- Closing Mouth for Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a self-closing mouth for bags,--such astobaccobags, particularly those containing granular tobacco, so that these bags will normally remain closed and prevent the spilling and loss of tobacco and yet may be readily opened by the merepressure of the hand to allow the tobacco to be poured from the bag much in the mannerin which the old-fashioned powderpiece.

flasks permitted powder to be poured'from them when their caps had been removed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved device applied to a tobacco-bag. Fig. 2 shows this self-closing mouth opened by pressure between the thumb and first finger. Fig. 3 is a view of the mouthpiece at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan View of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line a a, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modification. Fig. 7 is a view of a modified form of lip for the mouth- Fig. 8. is a detailed view of a further modification, and Figs. 9 and 10 show a still further modification before and after assembling.

The mouthpiece is composed of a tube T, of

--flexible material, preferably rubber, having sbpwn in Fig. 2 will how the lips away from meeting centrally and their curveff'redges I held under the influence of elastic means, shown in this instance as the tube T itself. By forming these lips L L of the shape described it is insured that pressure exerted as each other and produce the opening through which tobacco or the like may be poured. In order to cause the tension of the elastic tube to-close these lips, in addition to their own tendency to elongate and occupya closed position, I preferably'notch the outer sides of the lips at 'n. n. It will be seen that these notches open when in the position of Fig. 2, thereby tensioning the rubber tube, which when the fingers are released will spring ba ck into position shown-in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 7, in place of these notches andsegmental-shaped lips I may make lips substantially straight and pointed at the ends and provide them with central bridge-pieces. B B. A rubber band placed around these lips in like manner will tend to return them to a closed position.

The tube T may be secured to the flanges F F in various ways. In Fig. 5 Ihave shown it as reinforced by an interior bushing C, on which two separate flanges are secured. In

Fig. 6 the two flanges f f are shown formed together spool fashion and the tube secured within their interior.

It is important that the lips have a greater diameter on a center line at right angles to the line of contact and that they taper toward the end of the line of contact, as this insures complete and strong closure to prevent egress of material as well as the ready opening of the mouth under proper pressure.

I claim as my invention- 1. A self-closing mouth for a bag comprising an elastic tube, flexible lips at the mouth of said tube, said lips having tapering ends, and straight adjacent inner surfaces, and elastic means for holding said surfaces in contact, substantially as described.

2. A self-closing mouth for a bag,comprising lips, shaped as segments of a circle, and

an elastic tube secured to said lips adapted tofhold said lips closed, substantially as described.

h. A self-closing mouth fora bag, comprising lips, elastic means for keeping said lips closed, an elastic tube secured to said lips in combination with two flanges at the end of said tube, substantially as described.

4. A self-closing month for a bag, comprising lips shaped as segments of a circle, an elastic tube surrounding and secured to said lips, whereby the lips are held closed under its tension, substantially as described.

5. A self-closing mouth for a bag, comprising two lips shaped as segments of a circle and slit-ted in their outer sides, and elastic means surrounding said .lips.

6. A self-closing mouth for a bag, comprising lips having straight outer slitted edges, and an elastic means surrounding said lips to curve said outer edges and close the inner edges on each other, substantially as describe J r 7. Aclosureforabagcomprisingaself-clos-' ing mouth and a pair of flanges,an elastic tube connecting them, the flanges adapted .to frictionally grasp and hold the mouth of an bag between them, substantially as described.

8. A self-closing mouth for a bag, comprising a pair of lips flexible throughout,meeting on a straight center line and widest at a central line at right angles to said meeting-line, the lips tapering toward the ends and fan elastic tube adapted to hold said lips together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE W. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

EDNA W. COLLINS, F, WARREN WEIGHT. 

